Barrel-closure.



OTTO J. HEMSCHEMEYER, OF FAIRVIEW, MONTANA.

BARREL-CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

Application filed August 31, 1916. Serial No. 117 ,914.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, OTTO J. HEMscn'E- MEYER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fairviewin the county of Richland and State ofMontana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barrel-Closures, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to a reusable closure particularly for barrels.

At the present time barrels are often used as shipping receptacles, forinstance for the return of bottles. In order to gain access to theinterior, the barrel head or closure is usually broken and damaged withthe result that it cannot be reused. It is under such conditions that myinvention is chieiiy applicable since the closure or head may be readilyremoved without damage to the head or to the barrel, and with equalfacility re placed and reused when desired.

I particularly aim to provide a closure capable of spreading under theaction of a wedge; one having an opening to facilitate insertion of thewedge, and to be closed by a filler block and to provide a means tofasten the wedge and block securely and removably in place.

With the above, and additional objects, such as will be pointed ont asthe description hereinafter progresses, the invention has been embodiedin one preferred form as illustrated in accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a barrel having my improved closureassociated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 with the latch leaf and protectingplate removed but suggested by dotted lines and parts being partly shownin section;

Fig.3 is a top or plan view of the barrel closure alone;

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the fastening means for the barrelclosure;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the fastening means forthe barrel closure, and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings,`

wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, theinvention has been shown in connection with a barrel 7 having a groove 8adjacent the top in order to re- .b ceive a closure or head. My improvedclosure or head comprises similar sections 9 collectively substantiallyforming a disk and each section being made if desired of a plurality ofstrips of Wood or other material fastened together as by means of cleats10 and rivets 11. The sections, however, may be made in any desiredmanner and of anv suitable material. u

The head 9 9 is cut away to provide intermediate the sections, a wedgereceiving opening 12 which leads :from an opening 13 at the center ofthe barrel and tapers or decreases in size toward the marginal edge ofthe closure. Adjacent the openingll, a link 14 bridges the sections andis pivotally connected to each section as by means of rivets or theequivalent at 15. This connec tion of link and pivots enables thesections 9 9 of the closure to move relatively to a slight extent; thatis spread.

In order to spread the sections 9 9, I em ploy a wedge 1G conforming inshape to the opening 12. To prevent descent of the wedge into thebarrel, I preferably provide longitudinal tongues 17 on the sections 9which enter grooves 1S in the lsidesof the wedge. In order that tlvwedge may be inserted and positioned, the opening 13 is provided and thewedge is first placed with the Widest portion in this opening and thenthe grooves are moved into receiving 'engage-- ment with the tongues 17.After inserting the wedge, the opening 13 is again unfilled or open andin order to prevent Withdrawal of the wedge, I provide a filler block 19which extends into the opening 13. To prevent descent of the filler plug19 into the barrel through the opening 13 and to protect, the block 19and the opening 13, I provide a plate as shown at 20 which is fastenedas by means of rivets 2l lo the block 19 and which overlaps the sections9.

In order to fasten the filler 19 in the opening 13 against accidentalremoval,y a suitable fastening means is provided, which is preferably inthe form of a hasp 22. This hasp is fastened in position in any suitablemanner and may be clamped intermediate the filler 19 and the plate Q0,with at least one of the rivets or fastenings 21 extending through thehasp. Une arm of the hasp is pivoted or hinged to the wedge 16 at 23. Asa result, the hasp, iiller 19 and plate 20 are all pivoted from thewedge. The lateral arms of the hasp extend beyond the plate 19 andstaples 24, fastened to` theseetion 9, extend up through and beyond thearm so that fastening pms or the like 25 ma be passed through thestaples above the asp.

In use, after the barrel has been filled, the head is positioned so thatthe saine will extend into the groove 8 of the barrel 7. Sinee thesections El are pivoted at 15, they may be moved relatively tofacilitate sneh insertion. After the head has thus been positioned. theWedge 16 is positioned with `its larger end in the opening 13 whereuponthe wedge is moved from the center in the opening 12 and with thegrooves 18 receiving the tongues 17. When this insertion oeeurs, thefastening device is preferably in the dotted line position of Fig. 4 sothat the Filler 15) will be above the opening 13 and Will not interferewith the insertion. As the wedge is moved outwardly. it will spread thesee tions El from the members l5 as pivots. Af ter being inserted, plate20 depressed so that filler 1' will extend into the opening` lil, (hnscompletely elosing the head and pie venting withdrawal of the, wedge.Thereafter the pins or fastening members 25 are positioned in thestaples Q4 and as a result accidental untastening of the head isprevented. It will be understood that in order to remove the head, thepins 25 are removed, plate 20 and filler 19 moved outwardly, and thenused as a handle so as to slide the wedge inwardly into the opening 13for withdrawal. My oonstruetion is capable of reuse and is operablewithout injury to it or to the barrel. 1"

Since merely .ne preferred embodiment of the invention'lias beenillustrated and described, it. is to be understood that changes in thedetails of Construction may be resorted to within the spirit and scopeof the appended Claims.

I claim:

1. An expansible closure having a Wedge shaped opening extendinginwardly from the marginal edge and being narrowed at the margin, saidopening at the inner extremity being enlarged, a wedge member insertibleinto said opening through the enlarged extremity thereof, a fillermember insertzible into the enlarged extremity after positioning of thewedge member, a hasp fastened to one ot' said members and pivoted to theother of said members, and fastening means on the Closure forcooperating with the liasp.

2. An expansible closure having a wedge shaped opening extendinginwardly from the marginal edge and being narrowed at the marginal edge,said opening having an enlargement at its inner extremity.y an expandingmember insilrtible into Said opening through said enlarged extremity, afiller member insel-tibio into the enlarged extremitv a'l'ter insertionof the expanding member, a plate disposed over said filler andoverlapping the Closure, a` hasp secured nter mediate the filler andplate and having an arm pivoted to said expanding member, said hasp alsohaving an arm extending beyond the plate, a staple on said closurecoperating with the second mentioned arm, and fastening means Coperatinwith the staple.

In testimony whereof I a 1x my signature in presence oi. two witnesses.

OTT() J. HEMSCHEMEYER. titane/sees L. G. VAnoo, M. H. OTIS.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

